Postimees 8.juuli 1997
The exhibition of sculptures of the Armenian artist of Estonian origin, Rafael Arutyunyan, was opened in the Sakala Centre dedicated to the 60th birthday of the artist.
At the exhibition, 111 works of the artist of the last thirty years are exposed. For creating his sculptures Arutyunyan has used very different materials: granite, marble, wood, bronze, etc.
“I sculpt only the things that I have survived myself,” said the artist. “When a strong emotion comes, I cannot get rid of it before I have sculpted it. This is like a disease.” According to his own words he has become more interested in socio-political themes.
Rafael Arutyunyan was born in Baku. He came to Estonia in 1958. “I came to high school here because I had heard that there were good opportunities to study art in Estonia and to apply what you have learned,” said Arutyunyan.
He graduated from ERKI in 1964. At present, Arutyunyan is a freelance artist. For this exhibition Arutyunyan has been preparing for three years. According to Arutyunyan the exhibition of his sculptures has been realised thanks to his son who is financing the whole undertaking. Starting from July 24, the birthday of the artist, it is possible to buy the sculptures displayed at the exhibition.